Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay on Thursday participated within the thirty first assembly of the Southern Zonal Council together with different CMs of the area and made three key requests earlier than Union dwelling minister Amit Shah — one on delimitation, one other on NEET and a 3rd on drug management.
Together with Vijay, Karnataka chief minister DK Shivakumar and Andhra Pradesh’s N Chandrababu Naidu had been additionally in attendance on the assembly on the Taj Fisherman’s Cove lodge in Kovalam, Chengalpet district in Tamil Nadu. The Council was hosted by the TVK-led Tamil Nadu authorities.
CM Vijay’s three appeals to Centre
Delimitation Invoice
Addressing the assembly, Vijay sought agency assurance from the Centre that no state would lose parliamentary illustration on account of the proposed Delimitation Invoice, 2026.
“Because the freeze on the allocation of Lok Sabha seats based mostly on the 1971 Census approaches its finish and the Delimitation Invoice, 2026, is taken into account, there’s a real and shared concern throughout the Southern States that delimitation based mostly predominantly on populations might diminish our collective voice in Parliament,” the Tamil Nadu CM mentioned.
He argued that with the delimitation invoice, the southern states shouldn’t be penalised for his or her achievements in inhabitants stability, information company ANI reported.
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CM Vijay mentioned the southern states have, from the forefront, achieved inhabitants stabilisation, human growth, and financial development.
“These achievements mirror the profitable implementation of nationwide priorities and mustn’t lead to a discount of our illustration. Public coverage should not inadvertently penalise States for fulfilling nationwide aims,” he added.
“I due to this fact urge the Union Authorities to offer a transparent legislative assurance that no State will endure a discount in its proportion of illustration in Parliament on account of its success in inhabitants stabilisation,” Vijay mentioned.
The Tamil Nadu CM mentioned that such an strategy would make sure the upholding of the ideas of fairness, the preservation of the federal steadiness envisioned by the Indian Structure, and the reinforcement of the Confidence of all of the states within the nation’s democratic establishments.
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Tamil Nadu, together with Kerala, has constantly voiced considerations about delimitation based mostly on inhabitants metrics. It is because southern states have carried out nationwide household planning and inhabitants management directives to a bigger extent over the past 5 many years. In consequence, their relative inhabitants share has grown at a slower tempo than that of many northern states.
NEET admissions
On the matter of the Nationwide Eligibility cum Entrance Check (NEET), CM Vijay emphasised Tamil Nadu’s long-standing objection to the medical entrance examination. He argued that the NEET examination presents disadvantages for rural and marginalised college students.
“Tamil Nadu has constantly maintained that the Nationwide Eligibility cum Entrance Check (NEET) locations college students from rural backgrounds and socially and economically deprived communities at a definite drawback, undermining the State’s long-standing mannequin of inclusive entry based mostly on college training,” he mentioned.
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Vijay urged the Union authorities to permit another admission mechanism for medical programs underneath the state quota, particularly based mostly on Class 12 marks.
“I urge the Union Authorities to allow Tamil Nadu to fill all seats underneath the State quota in MBBS, BDS, and AYUSH programs solely based mostly on Class XII marks, in step with the State’s confirmed and equitable admission system,” the Tamil Nadu chief minister mentioned.
Medication menace
Moreover, on the Southern Zonal Council, Tamil Nadu CM Vijay known as for stringent regulation of on-line gross sales of prescribed drugs, and tighter interstate coordination towards narcotics.
He urged the Centre to strengthen the regulatory framework governing the web gross sales of prescription medicines and to make sure stricter enforcement towards their unauthorised sale. He additionally requested the Union authorities to “assessment the prevailing authorized framework to successfully handle rising substance abuse amongst youth.”
Vijay addresses Cauvery water row
The Tamil Nadu chief minister additionally touched upon interstate river disputes, particularly amid the latest rise in tensions with Karnataka over the Cauvery water-sharing row. CM Vijay mentioned that cooperation needed to be paired with authorized compliance to resolve the difficulty.
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“Water is key to the lives, agriculture, and livelihoods of thousands and thousands, and the administration of interstate rivers calls for each cooperation and unwavering respect for the rule of regulation. First, the reputable rights of decrease riparian States and the livelihoods that depend upon assured river flows should be absolutely protected. Second, the judgments of the Supreme Courtroom, the awards of duly constituted tribunals, and the statutory mechanisms established for river administration should be carried out in letter and spirit,” he mentioned.
For the Cauvery dispute, particularly, CM Vijay mentioned the well timed enforcement of the Supreme Courtroom’s judgment and the choice of the Cauvery Water Administration Authority (CWMA) is important, information company ANI reported.
Earlier, the CWMA had directed Karnataka to launch 12,000 cusecs of water every single day to Tamil Nadu at Biligundlu, ranging from August 12, 8 am, for the subsequent 15 days. To this impact, the Supreme Courtroom additionally directed the Congress-led Karnataka authorities to make sure compliance.
